Empowering Change: Embracing Antiracist Education in Child Psychiatry
In recent years, the medical field has been called to address the pervasive issue of racism within its practices and education. The tragic deaths of individuals like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have highlighted the urgent need for systemic change. One significant step forward is the integration of antiracist education in medical training, particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry. The UCLA CAP Fellowship Program's novel curriculum, "Foundations in Racism," offers a groundbreaking approach to addressing this need.
Understanding the Curriculum
The "Foundations in Racism" curriculum was first piloted in 2017 for first-year child psychiatry fellows at UCLA. It emphasizes the historical and systemic roots of racism, such as the American Indian Genocide and slavery, and their impact on mental health inequities. The curriculum aims to provoke meaningful racial dialogue and enhance racial consciousness among trainees, ultimately improving clinical care.
Key Components of the Curriculum
- Racial Climate Assessment: Before implementing the curriculum, assessing the institutional racial climate is crucial. This can be done through formal surveys or informal considerations, helping gauge the environment's readiness for this content.
- Interactive Sessions: The curriculum consists of four 1-hour interactive sessions. These sessions cover topics such as the physiological mechanisms of racial discrimination, historical trauma, and the legacy of slavery in American medicine and psychiatry.
- Conceptual Frameworks: The curriculum draws from key documents like The National Academy of Medicine’s "Framing the Dialogue on Racial Equity" and works by scholars such as Derald Sue and Camara Jones.
- Media and Humanities Integration: Contemporary journalism, documentaries, and TED Talks are used to illustrate racism's clinical toll and challenge prevailing narratives.
Implementing the Curriculum in Practice
For practitioners looking to integrate antiracist education into their practice, the UCLA curriculum provides a valuable roadmap. Here are some steps to consider:
- Assess Your Environment: Conduct a racial climate assessment to understand the readiness and receptivity of your institution or practice.
- Engage in Continuous Learning: Encourage ongoing dialogue about racism and health equity. Use resources from the curriculum, such as readings and media, to foster understanding.
- Promote Self-Reflection: Encourage trainees and practitioners to reflect on their own racial identities and biases, fostering a deeper understanding of how these impact clinical practice.
- Adapt and Expand: Consider adapting the curriculum to suit the specific needs of your audience, whether they are medical students, faculty, or practicing clinicians.
Conclusion
The "Foundations in Racism" curriculum is a pioneering effort to integrate antiracist education into child psychiatry training. By understanding and implementing the insights from this curriculum, practitioners can contribute to a more equitable healthcare system. For those interested in further exploring this topic, the original research paper provides a comprehensive overview of the curriculum's development and implementation.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Foundations in Racism: a Novel and Contemporary Curriculum for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows.
